Archives: March 2011

Redmond WA-based Browsium Inc. today announced the release of UniBrows™ 1.0.2, an update to its recently released browser compatibility software which enables enterprises to run their already-deployed and paid-for IE6-based web applications in IE8, without changing a single line of code. UniBrows 1.0.2 adds the ability to run line of business applications built for IE6 in Microsoft’s newest browser, IE9, along with a variety of performance and compatibility improvements. Customers already evaluating or deploying UniBrows will be notified of the no-charge update via email. New customers can download the free UniBrows 60-day Evaluation Kit from www.browsium.com.

About Browsium, Inc.
Founded in 2010, Browsium Inc. creates enterprise-ready software solutions, enabling organizations to extend the life of already-deployed and paid-for line of business web applications as they roll out new operating systems and browser platforms to their client PCs. Browsium’s first product, UniBrows, promises to revolutionize browser compatibility by allowing legacy IE6-based web applications to run on Windows 7 and IE8 on Windows XP without modifying a single line of code.

Today we released UniBrows version 1.0.2 which adds support for IE9, along with a variety of performance and compatibility improvements. Everyone who has been running UniBrows 1.0.1 has already received an email with a link to download 1.0.2. And all new Eval Kits will ship with 1.0.2 beginning today. (If you can’t find the 1.0.2 download email, email us at sales@browsium.com we’ll get you straightened out.)

The big “feature” in 1.0.2 is obviously the ability to run IE6-based web applications in IE9, as IE6 compatibility is the big draw for UniBrows today.

But there’s much more to UniBrows than just running IE6 apps in modern versions of IE. UniBrows Profiles enable IT pros to manage the web application platform for their current applications as well as their legacy ones. Need to run an older version of Java in IE9? No problem? Using a web application that requires IE7 and Flash 9? No problem. Need to turn off DEP and NX for just one web application on your network? No problem. With UniBrows 1.0.2, the Profiles feature now enables granular control (or what we call Web Application Continuity) for the IE6, IE7, IE8, and IE9 engines. The power is in the hands of enterprise IT to ensure that fragile web applications never break when new web platform components are added to the mix — including major ones like IE9.

There are other enhancements in UniBrows 1.0.2 — performance improvements, Group Policy improvements, and overall web application compatibility improvements. We’ve also added the ability to edit a rule after it’s been created in the UniBrows Configuration Manager. Check out the release notes for complete details on what’s new.

Keep the feedback coming in so we can continue to enhance the product on a regular basis. As always, check out our Support Site to see the latest KB articles and tips & tricks so you and your organization can get the most out of UniBrows.

I’ve been fortunate to have been part of several successful startups and early www companies so I’ve been through several product launches, but it’s never felt as good as this time to say “We’ve shipped.”

Looking back, it’s been about a year since the first idea for UniBrows. It started with a belief that there was a better way to help companies adopt new browser and web technologies while not having to ‘forklift upgrade’ core parts of their infrastructure. A short time later it was over a bacon doughnut that Matthew Crowley and I sat down in a coffee shop over a napkin drawing of the concept that would become UniBrows. There were countless nights of coding and building slide decks, then a (very satisfying) deluge of customer inquiries following our coverage in Computerworld and Information Week. Matthew and I met with dozens of customers at all hours of the day and night, and along the way we’ve been fortunate enough to hire several great team members to help grow Browsium.

It has been worth every minute of it and Matthew and I gratefully thank the many companies and people who have provided us feedback over the course of the past few months. On behalf of Matthew, myself and the rest of the Browsium team I am happy to say we’ve finally made it. UniBrows v1 is now available for free evaluation and for sale!

UniBrows™ from Browsium Inc. enables IE6 line of business applications to run natively on Windows 7 at a fraction of the cost and complexity of the alternatives

REDMOND — March 15, 2011 — Browsium Inc. today announced the release of UniBrows™, an innovative new product that enables millions of valuable Internet Explorer 6-based line of business applications to run inside Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 8, paving the way for large-scale enterprise migration to Windows 7. UniBrows is a lightweight browser add-on that is easy and inexpensive to deploy, requiring no new infrastructure and no servers.

With UniBrows there’s no longer a need to rewrite Web applications or install expensive and complex virtualization solutions. By simply installing UniBrows on PCs running Windows 7 or Windows XP with IE8, enterprises can continue to use all of their already-deployed and paid-for IE6 applications inside IE8 without modifying a single line of code.

Browser compatibility issues have dogged the enterprise in recent years, resulting in 74 percent of the organizations continuing to run the aging Windows XP on their desktop and laptop PCs and delaying browser and operating system upgrades as long as possible. These compatibility issues, driven by line of business applications that run only in IE6, have the added problem of blocking deployment of Windows 7, forcing organizations to forego the business and technology benefits of Microsoft’s latest operating system.

UniBrows solves both problems via an IE8 add-on that enables IE6 web applications to run in an IE8 tab, enabling enterprises to upgrade PCs to Windows 7 while keeping their legacy IE6 applications running unmodified.

Browsium’s approach, called Web Application Continuity, extends the ROI of existing applications by freezing the platform for Web applications at a ‘known good state’, and providing granular control for side-by-side compatibility regardless of the browser engine or configuration required by each application. No other solution provides this level of compatibility and control.

“UniBrows eliminates all of the pain points for companies who are stuck on IE6, and would love to move to IE8 and Windows 7,” said Matt Heller, founder and CEO of Browsium. “UniBrows provides an immediate solution, allowing organizations to modernize their operating systems and browsers now, while they update legacy Web applications over time on their own schedules.”

UniBrows has been in testing by a variety of enterprise customers around the world for the past six months and the results have been extremely positive. Installation on Windows XP and Windows 7 PCs was quick and easy, and centrally configuring the web applications that need to use the IE6 engine was seamless.

UniBrows Features

UniBrows is compatible with all IE6 web applications, easy to deploy and manage, simple and secure, and completely transparent to users. UniBrows delivers complete IE6 functionality and behaviors by using the original, native IE6 rendering, JavaScript, ActiveX and security design.

UniBrows gives IT administrators a convenient and simple management tool to create the rules and profiles for specifying which web applications are designated for use with the IE6 browser engine and legacy ActiveX components. All other intranet and Internet websites use the more secure and modern IE8 engine and current ActiveX controls by default.

UniBrows Availability

The commercial release of UniBrows is now available for enterprise deployment, supporting Windows 7 and IE8 on Windows XP. Pricing varies by size of organization. Site licenses and volume discounts are available for larger organizations.

About Browsium, Inc.

Founded in 2010, Browsium Inc. creates enterprise-ready software solutions, enabling organizations to extend the life and ROI of existing line of business web applications as they roll out new operating systems and browser platforms to their client PCs. Browsium’s first product, UniBrows, promises to revolutionize browser compatibility by allowing legacy IE6-based web applications to run on Windows 7 and IE8 on Windows XP without modifying a single line of code.